Process for removing greasy deposits from concrete, wood, and tile surfaces



Patented July 9, 1946 UNITED STAT E S PATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOR REMOVING GREASY DE- POSITS FROM CONCRETE. WOOD, AND

TILE SURFACES No drawin Application May a, 1942.

Serial No. 441,995

8 Claims. I

This invention relates to a process for removin deposits of an 01b, greasy, waxy or asphaltic nature, hereinafter referred to generically as "greasy deposits." from surfaces soiled therewith, more particularly to a process for removing grease and dirt from concrete garage doors.

As is well known, concrete, wood and tile surfaces frequently become soiled with greasy deposits. This problem is particularly acute in the case of concrete garage floors, especially those of large commercial garages, which quickly become coated with deposits of grease and oil with which are intermixed considerable quantities of dirt. These deposits, because of the comparatively rough and porous nature of the concrete surfaces. adhere tenaciously to the floors and are exceedingly difficult to remove; however, it is highly undesirable to permit their; to remain on the floors since they tend to accunfulate and thus render the garage floors extremely slippery and unsightly in appearance. Hence. for some time there has been a demand for an effective garage floor cleaner.

A satisfactory garage floor cleaner must be capable of cutting the greasy deposit on the floor soas to loosen the grease and remove the deposit. together with the dirt incorporated therewith. from the concrete surface: furthermore, a satisfactory cleaner should be such that, after application thereof to the garage floor, removal thereof together with the grease and dirt may be accomplished by simply flushing the floor with water. The cleaner should also be chemically inert toward the concrete. To our knowledge no material satisfying these requirements has as yet been provided. The use of alkaline detergents such as soap. soda and the like has proved unsatisfactory since excessive scrubbing is required before they effectively cut the greasy deposit. r ganic solvents capable of dissolving the grease also do not fill the above requirements since they are almost universally insoluble in water, so that they cannot be successfully removed from the floor by flushing with water, and since they generally are inflammable and, hence, present a certain fire hazard on use.

The above discussion also applies to the removal of greasy deposits from surfaces such as wood and tile which may become soiled therewith since such deposits frequently adhere tenaciously to the soiled surfaces and cannot be satisfactorily removed with alkaline detergents or organic sol. vents for reason above mentioned.

It is an object of this invention to provide a process for effectively removing greasy deposits from surfaces soiled therewith.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an effective garage floor cleaner capable 5 of cutting greasy deposits on concrete garage floors and of removing the deposits thus treated from the floors by flushing with Water.

We have made the surprising discovery that greasy deposits on surfaces soiled therewith may be eflectively removed by contacting the deposits with a composition comprising o-dichlorbenzene containing dissolved therein a. substantially saltfree sulfonated detergent obtained by r ng the addition product of an olefin or mixture of olefins containing between and carbon atoms and nitrosyl chloride or nitrosyl bromide with a reagent capable of replacing the halogen present in th addition product by a radical comprising a water-solubilizing group, and then flushin the deposit from the surfaces with water. We have found that our novel compositions out the greasy deposits easily without excessive scrubbing. thereby quickly disengaging the grease and dirt from the soiled surfaces, in spite of the tenacious as adherence normally displayed by such deposits:

furthermore, our composition are readily emulsifiable in water so that they may be washed from the surfaces by merely flushing with water. The compositions of our invention are readily fluid 30 and may be applied to the greasy deposits by spraying in undiluted form or emulsified in from one to ten times their weight in water: if a particularly heavy greasy deposit is to be removed. we prefer to use our composition in substantially undiluted form. Our compositions are not inflammable, so that no fire hazard is presented by their use. They are, therefore, preeminentiy suited for removing greasy deposits from surfaces soiled therewith and are particularly adapted for removing such deposits from concrete garage floors.

Our novel compositions may be prepared by dissolving in o-dichlorbenzcne a substantially salt-free sulfonate detergent obtained by reacting an olefin or a mixture of olefins containing between 10 and 30 carbon atoms, preferably between 14 and 24 carbon atoms, and obtained. for example, by dehydration of fatty alcohols, destructive distillation of waxes, cracking of petroleum. l0 dehydrohalogenation of halogenated hydrocarbons or polymerization of low molecular weight oleflns, with nitrosyl chloride or nitrosyl bromide and treating the halogenated addition product thus formed with an aqueous solution of a sulflte ll of an alkali metal or ammonium, or of an organic 3 basesuchasbutyiaminatoconvertthehaiocen oftheaddition productintoasulfogroum separating the bulk of the inorganic salts from the'organic sulfonates in any suitable manner such as, for example, extracting the mitonates with an alcohol so as to produce a substantialhr salt-free detergent: preferably, an olefin mixture derived from a petroleum source is employed to form these detergent compositims. The desired detergent may also be formed by reacting the halogentated addition product with water-soluble salts of oxygen-containing polybaaic inorganic acids other than sulfitea capable of reacting with an aliphatic compound containing an easily replaceable chlorine atom to replace the chlorine with the residue of the acid, e. g. alkali metal thlosulfates. The pr ducts obtained are solids and are soluble in o-dichlorbensene to the extent of about 25%. Preparation of products of the above type i disclosed and claimed in United States patent 2,265,- 093, issued to Beckham December 18, 1941: reference to this patent will show that the products described therein comprise alkyl compounds containing nitrogen and alkyl compounds containing keto carbon atoms.

The amoimt of the sulfonated detergent dissolved in the o-dichlorbenzene may vary considerably since solutions containing between about 1% and about 25% of the detergent have been found suitable; preferably, the compositions used in accordance with our invention contain approximately 10% of the sulfonated detergent. As hereinabove pointed out, the compositions may be applied to the greasy deposits to be removed in substantially undiluted form. particularly when exceedingly heavy crew deposits are to be removed. However. since we have found emulsions of the above compositions are also eil'ective in removing greasy deposits from soiled surfaces, these compositions may be applied in the form of emulsions containing one to ten times their weight of water.

Application of the compositions of our invention to the greasy deposits to be removed may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as, for example. by spraying. These compositions are permitted to remain in contact with the greasy deposits for a time sufllcient to cut the grease and thereby disengage it. t sether with the dirt accumulated therewith, from the surface; ordinarily between about one and about ten minutes of contact are suitable to effect this disengagement. At the end of this time the cleaner may be removed from the surface, together with the greasy deposits, by merely flushing the surface with water by means of a hose or in any other suitable manner. since the cleaner emulsifies the grease and dirt in the water and thereby permits substantially complete removal thereof. A preferred embodiment of this invention involves the use of our compositions for the removal of greasy deposits from concrete garage floors since the properties of our compositions, set forth above. are such that such deposits may be removed with particular facility, thus satisfying the demand for an effective cleaner for this purpose.

The following example is illustrative of our invention:

A composition containing 90% o-dichlorbenacne and 10% of a substantially salt-free sulfonated detergent obtained by reacting a mixture of oleflns containing between 14 and 24 carbon atoms and obtained from a cracked petroleum with nitrosyl chloride and treating the addition product with sodium sulnte. was sprayed on a greasy garage floor and permitted to remain in contact therewith for five minutes; at the end of this time the floor was flushed with water, whereby the grease was substantially completely removed.

From the above description it will be evident that our invention provides an eillcient and practical method of removing greasy deposits from surfaces soiled therewith. particularly from concrete surfaces such as garage floors. In view of the ease with which our invention may be carried out and in view of the economic nature of our compositions, our invention will be of value to those concerned with the removal of such greasy materials.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process and certain modifications in the compositions which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A process for removing greasy deposits from concrete garage floors which comprises applying thereto a composition comprising o-dichlorbenacne containing dissolved therein between about 1% and about 25% of a substantially inorganicsalt-free sulfonated detergent obtained by reacting the addition product of a mixture of cleilns containing between 14 and 24 carbon atoms and derived from a petroleum source and a nitrosyl halide selected from the group consisting of nltrosyl chloride and nitrosyl bromide, said addition product containing a replaceable halogen, with sodium sulflte and removing ihorganic salts, and then flushing the greasy deposits from the floors with water.

2. A process for removing greasy deposits from concrete garage floors which comprises applying thereto an aqueous emulsion of a composition comprising o-dichlorbenzene containing dissolved therein between about 1% and about 25% of a substantially inorganic-salt-free suifonated detergent obtained by res .ting the addition product of nitrosyl chloride and a mixture of oleilns containing between 14 and 24 carbon atoms and derived from a petroleum source. said addition product containing a replaceable halogen, with sodium sulflte and removing inorganic salts, and then flushing the greasy deposits from the floors with water.

3. A composition for removing greasy deposits from concrete surfaces comprising between about and about 99% o-dichlorbenzene and, dissolved therein, between about 1% and about 25% of a substantially inorganic-salt-free sulfonated detergent obtained by reacting the addition product of nitrosyl chloride and a mixture of olefins containing between 14 and 24 carbon atoms and derived from a petroleum source, said addition product containing a replaceable halogen, with sodium sulflte and removing inorganic salts.

4. A process for removing greasy deposits from a surface soiled therewith selected from the group consisting of concrete, wood and tile surfaces. which comprises applying thereto a composition comprising o-dichlorbenzene containing dissolved therein between about 1% and about 25% of a product comprising a substantially inorganic salt-free mixture of alkyl compounds containing a sulfonate radical, said compounds including alkyl compounds containing nitrogen and alkyl compounds containing keto carbon atoms, and said product being obtainable by the process comprising treating the addition product of an olefin containing between and 30 carbon atoms and a nitrosyl halide selected from the group consisting of nitrosyl chloride and nitrosyl bromide, said addition product containing a replaceable halogen, to replace the halogen with a sulfonate radical and removing inorganic salts, and then flushing the greasy deposits from the surface with water.

5. A process for removing greasy deposits from a surface soiled therewith selected from the group consisting oi concrete, wood and tile surfaces, which comprises applying thereto a composition comprising o-dichlorbenzene containing dissolved therein between about 1% and about 25% of a product comprising a substantially inorganic salt-free mixture oi alkyl compounds containing a suli'onate radical, said compounds including alkyl compounds containing nitrogen and alkyl compounds containing keto carbon atoms, and said product being obtainable by the process comprising treating the addition product of a mixture oi oleiins'containing between 10 and 30 carbon atoms derived from a petroleum source and nitrosyl chloride, said addition product containing replaceable chlorine, to replace the chlorine with a suiionate radical and removing inorganic salts, and then flushing the greasy deposits from the surface with water.

6. A composition for removing greasy deposits from a surface soiled therewith selected from the group consisting of concrete, wood and tile surfaces comprising between about 75% and about 99% o-dichlorbenzene and, dissolved therein, between about 1% and about or a product comprising a substantially inorganic salt-free mixture of alkyl compounds containing a sulfonate radical, said compounds including alkyl compounds containing nitrogen and alkyl compounds containing keto carbon atoms, and said product being obtainable by the process comprising treating the addition product of an olefin containing between 10 and carbon atoms and a nltrosyl halide selected from the group consisting of nitrosyl chloride and nitrosyl bromide, said addition compound containing a replaceable halogen, to replace the halogen with a suli'onate radical and removing inorganic salts.

ROBERT L. REYNOLDS. HARLAN M. RICE.

Patent No. 2,403,613.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

July 9, 1946.

rinted specification of the above olumn 4, line 24, after the word and period sense." insert the following paragraph The expression on! onate radical denote both the unneutrolg in the claims is used in its conventional sense to zed and neutralized sulfonic acid group.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of October, A. D. 1946.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

compounds including alkyl compounds containing nitrogen and alkyl compounds containing keto carbon atoms, and said product being obtainable by the process comprising treating the addition product of an olefin containing between and 30 carbon atoms and a nitrosyl halide selected from the group consisting of nitrosyl chloride and nitrosyl bromide, said addition product containing a replaceable halogen, to replace the halogen with a sulfonate radical and removing inorganic salts, and then flushing the greasy deposits from the surface with water.

5. A process for removing greasy deposits from a surface soiled therewith selected from the group consisting oi concrete, wood and tile surfaces, which comprises applying thereto a composition comprising o-dichlorbenzene containing dissolved therein between about 1% and about 25% of a product comprising a substantially inorganic salt-free mixture oi alkyl compounds containing a suli'onate radical, said compounds including alkyl compounds containing nitrogen and alkyl compounds containing keto carbon atoms, and said product being obtainable by the process comprising treating the addition product of a mixture oi oleiins'containing between 10 and 30 carbon atoms derived from a petroleum source and nitrosyl chloride, said addition product containing replaceable chlorine, to replace the chlorine with a suiionate radical and removing inorganic salts, and then flushing the greasy deposits from the surface with water.

6. A composition for removing greasy deposits from a surface soiled therewith selected from the group consisting of concrete, wood and tile surfaces comprising between about 75% and about 99% o-dichlorbenzene and, dissolved therein, between about 1% and about or a product comprising a substantially inorganic salt-free mixture of alkyl compounds containing a sulfonate radical, said compounds including alkyl compounds containing nitrogen and alkyl compounds containing keto carbon atoms, and said product being obtainable by the process comprising treating the addition product of an olefin containing between 10 and carbon atoms and a nltrosyl halide selected from the group consisting of nitrosyl chloride and nitrosyl bromide, said addition compound containing a replaceable halogen, to replace the halogen with a suli'onate radical and removing inorganic salts.

ROBERT L. REYNOLDS. HARLAN M. RICE.

Patent No. 2,403,613.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

July 9, 1946.

rinted specification of the above olumn 4, line 24, after the word and period sense." insert the following paragraph The expression on! onate radical denote both the unneutrolg in the claims is used in its conventional sense to zed and neutralized sulfonic acid group.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of October, A. D. 1946.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

